MAI Capital’s Chris Grisanti Recommends "Unpopular Places" to Outperform Top-Heavy Markets

This analysis is based on Chris Grisanti’s (MAI Capital) CNBC Power Lunch interview on December 19, 2025, where he recommended investors remain market-invested but focus on “unpopular places” to outperform top-heavy indices [1]. The “top-heavy index” likely refers to the S&P 500, historically concentrated in large-cap tech stocks. Market data from the Ginlix Analytical Database supports the context of his advice:

• Over the 30 days ending December 23, 2025, the S&P 500 rose 1.38%, while the Russell 2000 (a small-cap index with broader sector representation) outperformed at 3.64% [0].
• On the day of the interview, the Energy sector was the worst-performing sector (-1.62631%) [0], suggesting it may be an “unpopular place” Grisanti had in mind.
  An information gap exists: the exact definition of “unpopular places” (specific sectors, stocks, or asset classes) was not retrievable due to unavailable interview transcripts [1].

1. Concentration Risk Addressing
   : Grisanti’s advice targets the long-standing concern of overconcentration in top-heavy indices like the S&P 500, where a few large stocks drive most returns [0].
2. Emerging Trend Validation
   : The Russell 2000’s outperformance in the 30 days prior to the interview indicates small-caps may already be gaining traction, aligning with Grisanti’s recommendation [0].
3. Sector-Specific Context
   : The Energy sector’s poor performance on December 19 positions it as a plausible “unpopular” sector Grisanti referenced, though this is not confirmed without full transcript access [0,1].

• Opportunities
  :
  • Allocating to “unpopular places” like small-caps or underperforming sectors may offer alpha potential if market leadership shifts away from top-heavy indices [0].
  • The Energy sector’s short-term underperformance could signal undervaluation for long-term investors [0].
• Risks
  :
  • “Unpopular” assets may remain undervalued due to fundamental weaknesses (e.g., structural headwinds in Energy) [0].
  • Shifting allocation could lead to missed returns if the top-heavy index trend persists [0].
  • The lack of exact recommendations from Grisanti limits precision in implementing the strategy [1].

• Event Details
  : Chris Grisanti (MAI Capital) appeared on CNBC’s Power Lunch on December 19, 2025, advising investors on market strategy [1].
• Core Guidance
  : Stay market-invested but focus on “unpopular places” to outperform top-heavy indices [1].
• Market Context
  :
  • S&P 500 (+1.38%) vs. Russell 2000 (+3.64%) over 30 days ending December 23, 2025 [0].
  • Energy sector was the worst performer (-1.62631%) on December 19, 2025 [0].
• Information Gaps
  : Exact definition of “unpopular places” and full interview transcript [1].